I miss the fitness threads and the fitness Doms!

[Keroin]

A question on the exercise front.

This is probably the first time that I've exercised consistently, it's been about 6 months now. What I'm finding at the moment is that after I finish at the gym, about 10 minutes later my breathing is fine, and in that regard I feel like I could go again, or for longer, but my arms and legs feel like jelly. And that lasts for ages.

Is that normal? Is that right? Or should I change something so I feel less wobbly, but get more puffed out? My heart rate gets into the 70-80% range, and I think that's alright.

So, kind of random and silly I know, but I'm new to this!

Possibly you should be stretching more at the beginning and end of your workout and make sure you are drinking plenty of water, especially before you start working out. Try doing some relaxation afterwards too.

Are you doing mainly cardio stuff? Might help to do more weight training to build the muscle tone in your arms and legs.

xx

Good points above, Lizzie. You'll find that weight training and cardio compliment each other perfectly - each improves the other. And stretching is always a good idea. (Long muscles are strong muscles).

My question would be, how long is "ages"? An hour? A day? If you're new to consistent exercise and you're pushing yourself relatively hard, then a case of jelly legs afterward is not anything to be concerned about. It takes time to build endurance. What is your average routine and how long do the after effects last?

...and also some climbing, off for a wee climb this afternoon

Aha! We've found YC's new Best Lit Friend.

Welcome, to the thread Tilia. Board sports? Snow? Wake? Surfing? And where's your favourite place to climb, if you don't mind me asking (I'm not a climber but by husband did a lot in his younger years and many of my friends are hardcore - I live in Mountain Mecca).

 

[Chiara_searches]

I'm scheduled to do a 6 to 6.25 mile walk today but my covers won't let me out of bed. Seriously, they have me pinned down and not in my favorite way (well, in my favorite cocoon kind of way when I'm alone). Where is the motivation when you need it? Maybe I do need a fitness dom to come kick my ass into gear...but that would just distract me from my walk. I wonder if I could get away with running today instead; then I could stay cocooned for another hour.

 

[Tilia_Fondi]

Aha! We've found YC's new Best Lit Friend.

Welcome, to the thread Tilia. Board sports? Snow? Wake? Surfing? And where's your favourite place to climb, if you don't mind me asking (I'm not a climber but by husband did a lot in his younger years and many of my friends are hardcore - I live in Mountain Mecca).

I'm FAR from a hardcore climber! Just recently got into it and only indoors for now but now the weather is getting better I'm going to head up to some mountains. I live in Scotland so plenty of places to go here. I just started climbing indoors as a way to get some exercise without having to deal with the Scottish weather! What country do you live in?

As for board sports I do snowboarding, wakeboarding and kitesurfing. Not surfing, can't be bothered with all that paddling out nonsense, just to get swept back in!

 

[Keroin]

I'm FAR from a hardcore climber! Just recently got into it and only indoors for now but now the weather is getting better I'm going to head up to some mountains. I live in Scotland so plenty of places to go here. I just started climbing indoors as a way to get some exercise without having to deal with the Scottish weather! What country do you live in?

As for board sports I do snowboarding, wakeboarding and kitesurfing. Not surfing, can't be bothered with all that paddling out nonsense, just to get swept back in!

Ah yes, the Scottish weather...say no more! LOL.

I live in BC, Canada, in a small town in the Kootenay mountains. Think...powder!

Kitesurfing eh? That's a hell of a sport. L and me lived in the Cook Islands for a couple of years and helped some buddies set up their kite surfing school there. I didn't get out on the board but L did. He's a spectacular athlete and he said it was really challenging, (I think that was right after he got the salt water sinus flush though )

 

[Essene]

Well it works for as long as you follow it. If you stick to it you will lose weight.

My problem was that I've always had binge-eating disorder so sooner or later (whether that was after a month on a diet or a year on a diet) I would fall off the wagon and regain all the weight and then some. I have realised in the last few months that NO diet will ever be a long-term solution for me - that I need instead to cure the root problem - the psychological drivers behind the binge-eating disorder - and I'm doing that via "intuitive eating" (a term which is googlable).

Oh okay.
Well, if anything you seem very insightful, and prone to reflection. I hope you find something that works for you.

You said in your initial post that you don't have a problem with eating. If that is truly the case, I'd say either don't join WW and just get a weekly weigh-in at your gym (why diet if you don't have a problem with eating?) or do WW, and do it once, properly, until your weight is fixed - provided you feel that once you stop WW you won't regain the weight.

Well, I want to work at it from all angles. I played sports in college and stuff, and whenever I would train I'd become a ravenous beast -eating everything in sight (my body really defends its weight). As it stands now, I'm not burning much energy, so I don't get hungry often. I'm afraid that I might lose sight of my intake if I'm training a decent amount. The meetings and weigh-ins are more to give me structure and keep me accountable as far as the whole thing goes. If I know I'm coming up on a weigh-in I'm more likely to make the effort to work-out.

I dunno. I think I'll just sign up and keep y'all posted.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
I tried to pre register online and got an error message.

 

[Tilia_Fondi]

Ah yes, the Scottish weather...say no more! LOL.

I live in BC, Canada, in a small town in the Kootenay mountains. Think...powder!

Kitesurfing eh? That's a hell of a sport. L and me lived in the Cook Islands for a couple of years and helped some buddies set up their kite surfing school there. I didn't get out on the board but L did. He's a spectacular athlete and he said it was really challenging, (I think that was right after he got the salt water sinus flush though )

Canada... nice, I'm planning to hopefully travel to Canada at the end of this year or beginning of next. Never been before and not sure where yet, somewhere with plenty of powder!

Cook islands would be ace, I imagine its good for kiting. It is pretty challenging when starting out, it can take a while to get up and riding properly but it makes it all the more satisfying when you improve. I love it because the learning curve is so great, there are new things to learn every day and the sport is still evolving so will only get better. Its definitely my favourite sport, wakeboarding is only for non windy days and snowboarding is great but I'd much rather be kitesurfing in 30 degrees than snowboarding in -20 haha.

 

[Lizzie_Borden]

Possibly you should be stretching more at the beginning and end of your workout and make sure you are drinking plenty of water, especially before you start working out. Try doing some relaxation afterwards too.

Are you doing mainly cardio stuff? Might help to do more weight training to build the muscle tone in your arms and legs.

xx

I go after work, and I try to drink a fair bit before and after. I don't like taking water with me, cos the water sloshing round in me feeling makes me feel ill.

I could do more stretching though, definitely.

I do a mix of cardio and weights. The gym I go to is one of the circuit ones where you swap between cardio and weights.

Good points above, Lizzie. You'll find that weight training and cardio compliment each other perfectly - each improves the other. And stretching is always a good idea. (Long muscles are strong muscles).

My question would be, how long is "ages"? An hour? A day? If you're new to consistent exercise and you're pushing yourself relatively hard, then a case of jelly legs afterward is not anything to be concerned about. It takes time to build endurance. What is your average routine and how long do the after effects last?

Usually I go for about 30 minutes on the circuit, and then do about 15 mins on the exercise bike. I've been trying to build that up.

I haven't actually timed how long the wobbly feeling lasts but it can be for a good proportion of the rest of the evening, and then my muscles just feel tired. Sometimes even the next morning, I can feel like I don't have any strength left at all, but by mid afternoon I'm ok again.

I wonder if, when I do the weights, I might have a little too much. Should I aim for a lower weight and more reps? I'm not trying to bulk up after all.

 

[Keroin]

Usually I go for about 30 minutes on the circuit, and then do about 15 mins on the exercise bike. I've been trying to build that up.

I haven't actually timed how long the wobbly feeling lasts but it can be for a good proportion of the rest of the evening, and then my muscles just feel tired. Sometimes even the next morning, I can feel like I don't have any strength left at all, but by mid afternoon I'm ok again.

I wonder if, when I do the weights, I might have a little too much. Should I aim for a lower weight and more reps? I'm not trying to bulk up after all.

Don't worry about bulking up. Especially not with your current routine. It is very difficult for the majority of women to bulk up without chemical assistance, very specific training and rigid dietary changes. And if you're doing circuit training then my guess is you aren't lifting anywhere near your IRM.

Your duration of jellyness sounds completely with acceptable parameters. I've come away from workouts barely able to lift my arms for hours and been sore for days afterward. Your body takes time to recover. Remember, when you lift weights you are essentially breaking down muscle tissue and forcing it to rebuild.

As for your routine, there's nothing wrong with changing things up now and then - lower weight, more reps; higher weight, less reps; slight change of exercise for the same muscle group, etc. If you feel like you're hitting a plateau, this is a good way to "shock" your muscles back to work.

As for helping with muscle recovery - lots of water post-workout, stretch, drink a cup of chocolate milk (works wonders). In the shower, take a few moments and alternate the temp of the water from as hot as you can stand (30 seconds) to as cold as you can stand (30 seconds). This should help.

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

I go after work, and I try to drink a fair bit before and after. I don't like taking water with me, cos the water sloshing round in me feeling makes me feel ill.

I could do more stretching though, definitely.

I do a mix of cardio and weights. The gym I go to is one of the circuit ones where you swap between cardio and weights.

Usually I go for about 30 minutes on the circuit, and then do about 15 mins on the exercise bike. I've been trying to build that up.

I wonder if, when I do the weights, I might have a little too much. Should I aim for a lower weight and more reps? I'm not trying to bulk up after all.

I read an item in Men's Health recently about how doing your weights *before* your cardio makes your workout more effective. I don't know how you're doing it, but if I did my cardio before my weights, it would not be pretty.

I cannot wait (weight?) to get these goddamn stitches out and go to the gym. ARGGGGGGGGGGGGH! Also, a hot shower would be like a fucking blowjob at this point. Whew.

 

[red_sammie]

just reading about jelly legs ...lol I'm just beginning to walk again after a very bad tear in my calf...today was the second day in a row out on track...let me tell you! I've a long way to go! the jelly legs were so bad today! no pain no gain!

 

[FloggingMolly]

Zen-like calm worked, -3 this week

 

[ImOnIt]

I've worked up squatting 30kgs x 10 x 5 along with skipping and bodyweight exercises.

My bottlenecks atm are breathing (damn cold) and the amount of food I can eat in a day. I've turned some fat to muscle (18 down to 13% fat) while staying reasonably constant in weight between 70 to 71 kilograms.

Short term goal is to maintain interest and to continue to exercise daily (I've lost count of my consecutive days)
Mid term is to build strength with endurance across my entire body
Long term is to be able to look someone my size in the eye and think... I could squat you.

I'm not sick of tuna or eggs or beef. I eat minimal milk products and I'm going to avoid soy too.

 

[Chiara_searches]

Zen-like calm worked, -3 this week

Excellent Job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[YourCaptor]

http://youtu.be/Kestt5BI3eg

 

[Lizzie_Borden]

Don't worry about bulking up. Especially not with your current routine. It is very difficult for the majority of women to bulk up without chemical assistance, very specific training and rigid dietary changes. And if you're doing circuit training then my guess is you aren't lifting anywhere near your IRM.

Your duration of jellyness sounds completely with acceptable parameters. I've come away from workouts barely able to lift my arms for hours and been sore for days afterward. Your body takes time to recover. Remember, when you lift weights you are essentially breaking down muscle tissue and forcing it to rebuild.

As for your routine, there's nothing wrong with changing things up now and then - lower weight, more reps; higher weight, less reps; slight change of exercise for the same muscle group, etc. If you feel like you're hitting a plateau, this is a good way to "shock" your muscles back to work.

As for helping with muscle recovery - lots of water post-workout, stretch, drink a cup of chocolate milk (works wonders). In the shower, take a few moments and alternate the temp of the water from as hot as you can stand (30 seconds) to as cold as you can stand (30 seconds). This should help.

Thankies Keroin.

As I said, this is all new stuff to me, so I wasn't even sure if what I was experiencing was normal.

Seems I also need to remember I don't need to absolutely smash myself. Sometimes I just feel like I should be doing more, and that my body is letting me down. Then I also remember that I'm carrying a lot of excess weight, and these things take time. I can't undo however many years of bad habits and not looking after myself in weeks or months. I'm all about the lasting change.

 

[ultramarineblue]

My struggle this past fall and early winter to continue to work out in spite of having colds and allergies was lost. I always regret it when I start back again. The walking last week and the workout yesterday was no different. I know that I need to exercise the rest of my life but it seems it only gets harder to start again each time.

 

[Cattypuss]

Zen-like calm worked, -3 this week

Wehey!

Go Molly, Go Molly,
Go go go Molly!

 

[brioche]

I have actually gone so far as to have my brother explain how to do triceps and biceps on the BowFlex, and show me how to connect the cables and such, but I haven't actually used it yet. It would be nice to have the definition in my arms I used to have.

It would be in addition to what I do at physio. I'm currently badgering them to get 10 pound dumbbells, because they only have 5 and I can't use the other system for triceps. I need handles to avoid the latex in the cords and you can't get the right angle for triceps with them. It works fine for biceps though - I have gone up a cord colour
The BowFlex setting that worked for my triceps is 20, so it's out of whack with pounds.

ETA: As far as the stomach and fatigue issues, I got blood tests done on Friday. I doubt they'll help. I'm starting to wonder if the digestion thing is a food ingredient. I'll have to start correlating it to my foods and start noting everything on the website again.

Oh, and I had a snow day today!

 

[midwestyankee]

Zen-like calm worked, -3 this week

Bravo!

 

[ImOnIt]

I'm currently badgering them to get 10 pound dumbbells, because they only have 5 and I can't use the other system for triceps.

Modular weights go?

l------------l

llllll------llllll

 

[Tilia_Fondi]

I'm sure its not good to feel like going for a run at 4am when ive had no sleep?! Lately I've been feeling so lazy during the day and full of beans at night.

Anyone have any good tips for helping me to sleep? I've tried herbal and OTC meds but don't feel any change. Really don't want prescription meds.

I've also had a serious amount of hot chocolate with no effect as yet.

Ah well, back to my book

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

Zen-like calm worked, -3 this week

Zen-like CALM?? THAT'S the KEY to health?? WHAT THE FUCK?? WHY WAS I NOT TOLD???!!!!



Congrats, Mol!

 

[Chiara_searches]

I'm sure its not good to feel like going for a run at 4am when ive had no sleep?! Lately I've been feeling so lazy during the day and full of beans at night.

Anyone have any good tips for helping me to sleep? I've tried herbal and OTC meds but don't feel any change. Really don't want prescription meds.

I've also had a serious amount of hot chocolate with no effect as yet.

Ah well, back to my book

I think there may be a tiny bit of caffeine in the chocolate and the sugar may spike your blood sugar, both of which might affect your ability to sleep.

Also, when I can't sleep, sometimes a bath or shower with lavender scented soaps/oils/bubbles.

And my final fail safe that I use as a last resort is a shot of whiskey or other spirits. Just one shot, no other alcohol because too much can disrupt your sleep, but for me one shot seems to relax me a bit. Luckily, I haven't used this last resort for a few years.

 

[FloggingMolly]

Thank you all

It gets easier as time goes on, yet I always forget. Looking forward to restocking my cupboards to make interesting meals tomorrow

 

[Keroin]

I'm sure its not good to feel like going for a run at 4am when ive had no sleep?! Lately I've been feeling so lazy during the day and full of beans at night.

Anyone have any good tips for helping me to sleep? I've tried herbal and OTC meds but don't feel any change. Really don't want prescription meds.

I've also had a serious amount of hot chocolate with no effect as yet.

Ah well, back to my book

I have a history of insomnia, mostly because I can't shut my brain off, but also because I live with Super Snorer. Things I do that (mostly) work:

Hot bath before bed. This replicates what happens to your body when you fall asleep (body temp drops when you get out of the bath, just as it does when you fall asleep) and so sends a message to your brain that it is time to shut down.

Dim the lights a few hours prior to sleep. Again, another signal that copies what would happen if you were living out in the natural world, without artificial lights.

Melatonin. In conjunction with the other stuff, this seems to help.

No caffeine at least five hours before bed. (I do eat *small* amounts of dark chocolate sometimes).

Sleepy Time herbal tea a few hours before sleep.

If I'm having a real tough time, I will take a Nytol or other OTC meds, (or some other, more natural, Nelson-style *herbal* remedy ) And if several days pass, I'll go the prescription meds route - I'm not proud and lack of sleep is serious business.